Visit “Horse Whisperer” country and learn about Parelli Natural Horsemanship. Beginners and advanced riders all have a great time and improve their horse knowledge and skills. You will know more about horses and Western riding by the time you leave.

Nestled at the foot of Mitchell Mountain, thirteen miles east of the Great Divide and ten miles west of the famous Missouri River, the scenery is spectacular.

Rocking Z Ranch is a small family owned and run guest ranch. Your hosts Zack and Patty Wirth are fourth generation Montanans. Zack's great-grandfather came to Montana searching for gold in 1862 and Patty's grandfather homesteaded in 1869. Zack is an expert on the history of the area and has great stories of the events that shaped this part of the country. Also working on the ranch as wranglers are two of their six children, Maria and Anna, and Maria’s husband Ben.

The ranch currently has over sixty horses, all much loved, well mannered horses and a pleasure to ride. They are mostly Quarter Horses but also include Appaloosas, Paints, Mustangs, Belgians and a couple of smaller ponies. They are happy, responsive and fit mounts. Most are trained on the ranch using Parelli Natural Horsemanship techniques. The wranglers are all at experienced Parelli practitioners and will share their knowledge and demonstrate the techniques to you, which will enhance your experience at Rocking Z.

The itinerary is flexible to accommodate everyone with a mixture of half day and all day rides. You ride over a variety of terrain. Sometimes to the tops of the mountains where the views are spectacular and you can see six different mountain ranges. Parts of the rides are steep climbing, but where the terrain is appropriate you may have canters. A favourite ride is a sixteen mile ride to Medicine Rock, with the opportunity for lots of canters.

You are encouraged to be involved in grooming and saddling your horse and the wranglers will show you the Western reining techniques.

On one day of each week you have the opportunity to move cattle from one pasture to the next or bring the cattle into the arena to do team penning. If you are really keen to learn roping and cattle work, this can be available on request.

There are a wide range of non riding activities available including floating the Missouri River, target and clay shooting, archery, fishing, hiking, plus bird and wildlife watching. Rodeos take place in nearby towns on a number of weeks from mid June to the end of August, and the ranch staff are happy to take you to them.

You stay in one of eight spacious en suite guest rooms at the ranch and everyone eats together with the family in the main lodge. Enjoy ranch style meals with homemade pies, desserts and bread fresh from the oven. Evenings feature story telling, good conversation and sometimes singing and guitar and fiddle music.

The pace is varied from walk on the steeper slopes to a faster pace on the open spaces which are great for canters. Please note that early in the season if the tracks are muddy fast riding may not be possible. In the heat of summer canters may also be limited on the grasslands if there is an extreme risk of fire.

Riding instruction is available in Parelli Natural Horsemanship, Western riding and reining.

Rocking Z welcomes children of all ages. Children six and up will spend much of the day learning to ride and playing games on their horses. If their riding ability allows, children are able to join in with some adult rides.

There is no set weight limit but for their own safety and the welfare of their horses, Rocking Z do reserve the right to limit the riding of people who are overweight and/or unfit.

Rocking Z

Rocking Z

Between June and September ranch stays are six nights; arriving on
Sunday. The collection will be from Helena between 11am and 12noon.

After lunch and settling into the ranch, at around 2pm, you will meet the horses and have an orientation ride.

There is no set itinerary and what happens during the week depends on the
guests staying; their riding abilities; the weather and what else is
going on.

Rides normally range from two to six hours in length and usually set
out each morning at about 10:30. Sometimes you stay out all day with a
picnic lunch; sometimes you return to the ranch for lunch. Instead of riding out you might spend the afternoon doing some ground work with your horse in the arena.

You depart the
following Saturday after breakfast.

It is possible to stay for 13
nights, but there are no organised activities and only simple meals
provided on the middle Saturday. The Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning would be free for you to hike or perhaps visit a local area of interest. You would have a ride on the Sunday afternoon when the new arrivals are having their orientation.

Outside of June to September you can arrive and depart on any day and stay for as long as you like (3 night minimum stay).

Please note that the day to day itinerary is dependent on the weather and other local conditions.

There are eight spacious guest rooms. Each room has an en-suite bathroom and a door onto a covered porch. The rooms have cast iron stove heaters for cool spring or autumn evenings. Air conditioning is available in some of the rooms, as is wifi.

The rooms are of varying size and some can accommodate up to four people on king, queen or twin beds.

The main ranch lodge has a communal living and dining area where meals are taken with the family.

The normal ranch stay is six nights; arriving on Sunday, departing the following Saturday after breakfast. The collection will be from Helena between 11am and 12 noon and activities will begin at around 2pm on the Sunday.

It is possible to stay for 10 or 13 nights, but there are no organised activities and only simple meals provided on the middle Saturday.

Between November and March, you can arrive and depart on any day and stay for as long as you like (3 night minimum stay).

INCLUDES Six nights full board; riding and on-ranch activities. If staying 10 or 13 nights there are no organised activities and only simple meals provided on the middle Saturday.

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT No single supplement if you are willing to share. There is one small single room available at no supplement.

PAYABLE LOCALLY Drinks; off-ranch activities; tips $250 - $300

NEAREST AIRPORT Great Falls or Helena

TRANSFERS Included from Helena at a set time on Sunday morning and transfer back the following Saturday morning. At any other time transfers are possible from Helena at $175 per vehicle return, or from Great Falls at $225 per vehicle return (payable locally).